Dogma, die treuen Wahrheitssucher, veröffentlichen ihr selbstbetiteltes Debütalbum jetzt auf CD und LP. Das Album erzählt eine kraftvolle
musikalische Geschichte, die tief in die menschliche Psyche eindringt. Frontfrau Lilith sagt: „Auf unserem Debütalbum enthüllen wir eine rohe und
unverblümte Erzählung, die den Kampf gegen aufgezwungenen Glauben, ungerechte Zensur und die Befreiung von unlogischen Überzeugungen
beleuchtet. Es ist eine Reise durch verlorene Unschuld und eine Rebellion gegen archaische Zwänge. Ein kühnes Statement, das die Auflehnung gegen
gesellschaftliche Normen einfängt. Es geht darum, sich zu befreien, unsere Wahrheit anzunehmen und die uns auferlegten Beschränkungen
herauszufordern.“
Lilith führte weiter aus: „Visuell ist das Album-Artwork eine gewagte Reflexion der Allgegenwart der Lust in der Menschheit, unabhängig von allen
Bedingungen. Es dient als kühnes visuelles Testament, das die Wahrheit entlarvt, dass Lust ein inhärenter Teil unserer Natur ist, frei von jeglichen
auferlegten Beschränkungen wie falscher Moral und unlogischem Glauben.“ Dogma fordert uns auf, die Rebellion anzunehmen und unsere fleischlich
Gelüste zu entfesseln. Sie werfen die Ketten der Bescheidenheit beiseite und beschwören einen Sturm der Sinnlichkeit herauf, der unerschütterliche
Aufmerksamkeit und leidenschaftliches Mitmachen verlangt
Buscar:pleasure state
New Series from SIRS Maxi Maximal Cuts will focus on reworking timeless classics for maximum pleasure.
Time Of My Life - sounds like a lost or unreleased Dub version from the original, the main arrangement has been changed to focus on the bass and strings to give it a Balearic feel, building to the payoff. Let us Dance – pure 80’s Euro pop vibes which has been remixed and arranged with today’s dancefloors in mind.
On the B side with have an epic rework of ‘State Of Independence’ with added keys and beats, changing the melody and vibe for a more 90’s House feel.
Way back when, Upgrade & Afterlife was the umpteenth release from the individual and collective forces of David Grubbs (known then for Bastro, The Red Krayola, Codeine, Squirrel Bait) and Jim O"Rourke (known for O"Rourke), whose further history has since numbered at least another umpteen or so essential listens. What is it though, wrapped up in delectable sonic amber here, that defines this Upgrade? To be sure, we hear these young men dashing through the joys of youth-their actual young youth-as well as a version captured in memory and relived with a performative touch. Time remembered as tones, with gravity gained via perceptions. The stuff of memory and sentiment as selective and potentially deceptive in their nature. Who needed "em? As part of its time-traveling function, Upgrade & Afterlife is a return to roots, but not always necessarily Gastr"s. They were more than happy to stand on branches up above other folks in order to see any next thing worth leaping for. In addition to the elder-statesman Conrad, Gastr del Sol drew upon a memorable spectrum of players for the sounds of Upgrade & Afterlife, including Anthony Burr, Steve Braack, Gene Coleman, Mats Gustafsson, Terri Kapsalis, John McEntire, Günter Müller, Jerry Ruthrauff, Ralf Wehowsky and Sue Wolf. When issued, this combination of players, parts and play - packaged in an impressively broad tip-on Stoughton gatefold sleeve emblazoned with Roman Signer"s instantly iconic "Wasserstiefel" image - became the fastest-moving Gastr del Sol record to date. A delightful result, to our way of thinking, of the band"s ability to push at the far boundaries of their music while consolidating upon pleasure points within sounds and songs. Gastr used these polarities to compulsively draw the listener intimately close with sudden injections of g-force and an uncanny interpolation of space.
Hackney Electronica come to Dark Entries with the Synaptic Shadows EP, featuring 5 cuts of acidic rave-inflected wave. Quinn Whalley (Paranoid London), Unai Trotti (Cartulis Music), and Margo Broom (Hermitage Working Studios) formed Hackney Electronica during COVID era. Trotti and Whalley were spending countless hours digging through records and making music during lockdown. As their sound took shape - heavy and hypnotic - they invited Broom to join, cementing the motley trio. The five pieces on Synaptic Shadows explore themes of altered states, late-night cityscapes, and the fine line between pleasure and paranoia. Each track pulses like a memory from the backstreets of Hackney, where the night transforms the city into an electrified maze of fleeting highs and inevitable crashes. The anxious grooves on “H.E. Nuestro Circuito” and “Whispers from the Depths” channel 1980s DIY electronics onto the contemporary dancefloor, while “Efecto Perfecto,” “The One”, and “Nueva Ola” offer breakbeat-laced electro that will keep you dancing until dawn. Housed in a sleeve designed by German Bardo, Synaptic Shadows is more than just a debut release, it’s a journey through the flickering alleys of the mind, where tension and transcendence intertwine.
Dogma, die treuen Wahrheitssucher, veröffentlichen ihr selbstbetiteltes Debütalbum jetzt auf CD und LP. Das Album erzählt eine kraftvolle
musikalische Geschichte, die tief in die menschliche Psyche eindringt. Frontfrau Lilith sagt: „Auf unserem Debütalbum enthüllen wir eine rohe und
unverblümte Erzählung, die den Kampf gegen aufgezwungenen Glauben, ungerechte Zensur und die Befreiung von unlogischen Überzeugungen
beleuchtet. Es ist eine Reise durch verlorene Unschuld und eine Rebellion gegen archaische Zwänge. Ein kühnes Statement, das die Auflehnung gegen
gesellschaftliche Normen einfängt. Es geht darum, sich zu befreien, unsere Wahrheit anzunehmen und die uns auferlegten Beschränkungen
herauszufordern.“
Lilith führte weiter aus: „Visuell ist das Album-Artwork eine gewagte Reflexion der Allgegenwart der Lust in der Menschheit, unabhängig von allen
Bedingungen. Es dient als kühnes visuelles Testament, das die Wahrheit entlarvt, dass Lust ein inhärenter Teil unserer Natur ist, frei von jeglichen
auferlegten Beschränkungen wie falscher Moral und unlogischem Glauben.“ Dogma fordert uns auf, die Rebellion anzunehmen und unsere fleischlich
Gelüste zu entfesseln. Sie werfen die Ketten der Bescheidenheit beiseite und beschwören einen Sturm der Sinnlichkeit herauf, der unerschütterliche
Aufmerksamkeit und leidenschaftliches Mitmachen verlangt
- Believer
- This House Is On Fire
- What Are We Fighting For
- Love Conquers All
- Where Are The Heroes Now
- Breaking Up
- Nowhere To Run
- Pay Dirt
- Pleasure & Pain
- Stay Alive
- Day By Day
Als die Melodic-Rock-Supergroup W.E.T. 2009 ihr selbstbetiteltes Debütalbum veröffentlichte, war nicht abzusehen, dass sie auch 15 Jahre später
noch Platten machen würden.
Doch das Dreiergespann, bestehend aus Sänger Jeff Scott Soto (Talisman, Journey, Axel Rudi Pell, Malmsteen), Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse) an Gitarre,
Bass und Keyboards und ergänzt durch Gitarrist Robert Säll (Work of Art), meldet sich mit seinem fünften Studioalbum zurück.
Das Album mit dem Titel „APEX“ ist ein kühnes Statement für die Zuversicht der Band, ihr bisher bestes Werk abgeliefert zu haben. Elf Tracks voller
großer Refrains und eingängiger Melodien, serviert auf einem Tablett voller sanfter Härte.
Veyl is pleased to welcome Harlem back to the label with a new 8 track LP titled Cage. The Stockholm-based duo of Martin Thomasson and Johan Skugge last appeared on the imprint with 2021’s, Bait, and the project now returns diving deeper in to their infectious cocktail of menacing electronics.
Bringing with them a vast body of work, ranging from dub to minimal techno, with Harlem the pair fuse electro, no wave, post-punk, disco, proto-body, dub, hip-hop, and grime, creating a unique sound that cannot be categorized. Cage opens with “Shut Your Body”, a muscular piece which drills into the surface, setting the stage for what’s to come. Next up is “Fantasy Scan” a dance floor ready jam that picks up the pace and lures us into the pleasure dome. “Blow by Blow” brings a nihilistic energy to a fictional scenario that takes its cues from the past while remaining firmly in the now.
“Kiss The Steel” continues on the slow burning path, dropping us into a dream like state, blurring the lines of reality and plunging us into a surrealist nightmare or reverie? “Dummy Up” comes roaring back, injecting a dose of electro and body that sounds like a soundtrack to your favorite cult gathering. With “Sleuth”, we hear the repetitive grind of a man at work, searching for the unknown, unlocking new mysteries along the way. As we head toward the finale, “Contact High” brings back a seductive dance, ready to movie bodies and stir emotions. Closing things out is “Wiggle Walker”, returning us to a drifter’s journey, a wanderer’s melody that carries us to the end, or is it just the beginning?
- A1: Bells
- A2: Night Drive
- B1: Gaming Man
- B2: Fuyuukan
- C1: Gotta Have House
- C2: Machibouke
- D1: Way Of Jungle
- D2: Quiet Town Of Tokyo
- E1: Right Here Right Now
- E2: Sora - Sky Magic
- F1: Water Melodies
- F2: Nippon No Natsu
- G1: Rain
- G2: Orange Moon
- H1: I Know You Like It
- H2: Tokyo 018
- I1: Time Traveling
- I2: This Moment
- J1: Timeless
- J2: Take Yours
- K1: Night Drive (Reprise)
- K2: Simoon
- L1: Lens 1992
- L2: Bass Man
WRWTFWW Records is in a state of total bliss as it announces the release of the Pitstop Box compiling all 24 tracks from Japanese house music pioneer Shinichiro Yokota’s two acclaimed albums Do It Again and Again (2016) and I Know You Like It (2019). The collection, available on vinyl for the first time ever, is presented as six 45rpm-cut 12inches housed (!) in a superb slipcase box set created by Lopetz, designer, illustrator, typographer, and co-founder of Swiss graphic design studio Büro Destruct. Included as bonuses are two sticker sheets.
Previously only available on CD in Japan via cult electronic label Far East Recording, Shinichiro Yokota’s album discography finally gets a long overdue vinyl release in the form of a limited-edition box set housing (!) six 12inches and a total of 24 songs showcasing the house legend’s celebrated sound. With a production style drawing from a rich blend of funk, hip hop, electronic, and Japanese influences, Yokota’s music is loved for its simplicity, its hypnotic quality, and, most importantly, its SOUL – homegrown 90s soulful melodic club music…pure love!
The Pitstop Box, full of dancefloor treasures and sprinkled with downtempo gems, not only defines Yokota’s personal journey but also resonates as an essential contribution to the house genre and Japanese music in general. It includes his house hits (“Right Here Right Now”, “Night Drive” and the list goes on), a cover of “Simoon” by Haruomi Hosono’s Logic System, and a collaboration with his longtime partner and electronic music hero Soichi Terada.
Shinichiro Yokota began his musical history in Tokyo, inspired by electronic music giants such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and Kraftwerk. He co-founded Far East Recording with the great Soichi Terada (who also worked with WRWTFWW for the Omodaka compilation) in 1990. After releasing the now highly sought after Far East Recording album with Terada in 1992 (from which his viral hit “Do It Again” is from), he took a hiatus from music and, most notably, brought his passion for sports cars to the next level by launching Night Pager, a company he started with his wife, specializing in tuning sports cars and modifying limiters for competition racers. It’s this side of Yokota’s life which has inspired the design of the Pitstop Box. He triumphantly came back to music with the album Do It Again and Again in 2016, consisting of unreleased 90s recordings as well as new material, and followed it up with I Know You Like It in 2019. His work has influenced generations of producers, and has expanded Japanese house music's reach on the global stage. Experience it on vinyl now.
Full unadulterated pleasure forever - from night drives to dancefloors.
- A1: Disco To Go
- A2: Warship Touchante
- A3: Nappy
- A4: Birdie
- B1: Just Like You
- B2: When You’re Gone
- B3: Amorous
George Clinton’s imagination knew no bounds and, defying normal music industry convention, by 1978 had five bands signed to three different record labels. One of these comprised of three Parliament / Funkadelic female backing singers working under the name of Parlet, whose debut single, ‘Pleasure Principle’ was released on Casablanca Records in March 1978.
It was Clinton’s idea that two other backing singers, Lynn Mabry and Dawn Silva, become the Brides Of Funkenstein, a character he invented for the 1976 Parliament LP, “The Clones Of Dr Funkenstein”. “I have to be honest – at first, I hated the name and I thought George was kidding,” Mabry told Blues & Soul, “But I have gotten to like it – especially just the Brides.”
Clinton got the Brides signed to Atlantic Records and their first single was ‘Disco To Go’ / ‘ When You’re Gone’. The A-side was written and produced by Clinton and Bootsy Collins and had originally featured in live shows by Collins’ live band. Clinton was asked by Black Echoes why the song was recorded by the Brides rather than Bootsy. “He could, and it would have been a smash too,” he replied. “But we thought it sounded too much like James Brown, so we gave it to the girls. Now it don’t sound like James Brown.” It certainly did not and this electronic bass and horn-powered banger – complete with an Old MacDonald nursery rhyme refrain – debuted on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart at #80 on 30th September 1978. By the time the P-Funk crew were flying across the Atlantic in early November it had peaked at #7. Sadly for UK fans, ‘Disco To Go’ was only available on import although a Black Echoes review stated it was a “Slow chunky handclapper. It sounds not unlike Funkadelic’s own ‘Coming Round The Mountain’”.
‘Disco To Go’, went gold in America selling over 500,000 copies. It was the perfect springboard for the Brides debut LP, “Funk Or Walk” which quickly climbed into the upper reaches of the R&B chart and even saw the duo embark upon a signing tour of record stores. All of the songs on “Funk Or Walk” were written by legends of P-Funk, such as Bootsy Collins, Rodney Curtis, Bernie Worrell, Gary Shider and Clinton. “George has got thousands of tracks,” Mabry told Black Echoes. “When we go into the studio he says, ‘Like this one?
Red Vinyl. Since emerging in 2015, Sextile have been a party-provoking force on the LA underground, capable of kicking up a riot with the raw-edged squall of a synth or the sharp-elbowed jerk of a guitar. Sextile are now ready to rage with a serotonin-boosting new album, a new group dynamic, faster BPMs, and an even wilder new direction. Recorded in Yucca Valley, Push bounces and bops at the fringes of hardcore dance music, with the hallmarks of drum & bass, gabber and trance illuminating the record like glowsticks at a `90s Fantazia rave. "Contortion" introduces the album with shadowy vocals from Keehn and a `00s-ready twist of dirty electro bass, setting the tone for the dance-punk rave-up that unfolds across 11 attention-grabbing tracks. There's plenty of historic teen angst and biting social commentary written into the album's vivid tales and misadventures. Balancing storytelling with face- melting synths that turn the tune into an acid trance character study, "No Fun" is penned from the perspective of a teenager trying to flee their town. A punk spirit underscores the album. The clue's in the name with "Crassy Mel," which partly serves as a high-energy dedication to `70s anarcho-punk legends Crass . The track's headbang - ing heft, vocal yelping, and Prodigy -shaped breakbeats accentuate the album's overwhelming sense of fun. Plus, the dreamy ambient wash at the end of the song is the ultimate palate- cleanser. Push was inspired by the kind of pleasure-seeking music fans whose social calendar comprises both the punk show and the rave. Josh Wink, Iggy Pop, Goldie, and early XL Recordings have all been namechecked as influences on Push , and the dancefloor remains a constant pres - ence. Repping their place of origin, "New York" brings these musical touchstones off the page, guiding the album like an acid-soaked lodestar with its grinning nod to "Higher State of Consciousness" and a whirlygig of music-box synths. There are still nods and "hellos" to the caustic post-punk of Sextile's earlier work. Sextile haven't relinquished their punk credentials, they've just given them a smiley-faced revamp.
It's a pleasure to see MOY back on AF. Sure, Jonny doesn't invent anything, but everything he does sounds incredible and his tracks have the ability to grab you and never let go. He seems to say: "I know what you're here for". The particular way he executes hyperactive beats, acid basslines and melodies, makes the material very emotive and timeless, walking his influences around and elevating the machine's rhythms to new emotional levels. Jonny Moy always delivers, in fact, the brilliantly titled 'Supermassive EP' is not just a title but a statement of intent. These four tracks will stick in your head for a long time, for the club, nightdriving or home. What are you waiting for? Go on!
Here we have the third LP by the excellent Guy Hamper Trio, featuring James Taylor on Hamond organ, and Guy Hamper on guitar (sometimes called Childish) and what a first-class LP this is! 'Instrument of Evil' in particular has a very eerie vibe. We asked the man himself what was the inspiration for it? G.H. The track is the sequel to '7% Solution', which featured on the last Guy Hamper Trio LP (with Thee Headcoats standing in as rhythm section). A 7% Solution being the amount of morphine Dr Watson administered to Sherlock Holmes. For 'Instrument of Evil' I took Sherlock Holmes' later designation of his syringe as "an Instrument of Evil". This is originally a quote from the bible- "Wicked men do at times reject God's purpose for the state, transforming the good of civil government into an instrument of evil." Point of interest: Morphine addiction happens to tie in with another aspect of the song. In the section that nods to Elmer Bernstein's main title theme to the film of the book The Man With the Golden Arm, in which the main character is also a morphine addict. Another ingredient - we added six-string bass to that section in tribute to Jet Harris - he formerly of top group The Shadows, who recorded a great version of Bernstein's classic. To top it all off the record sleeve references the fine graphics of the great Saul Bass. The track also features contributions from Tom Morley (trumpet) and Anna Jordanous (sax) . Both Were a pleasure to work with. My job at the wheel is to basically make a playground and let Jamie, Anna and Tom loose in it with very little direction, apart from pointing out the swings and location of the roundabout. I told Tom "you're a Spanish trumpeter stood on a hill in Spain." For Anna, I think we said "go low and nasty." Other titles are taken from early poetry chapbooks I made in my youth. 'The First Creature is Jealousy' and 'Dog Jaw Woman' being examples. The title 'Incense Rising From a Censer' comes from Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, a book I really recommend. Prayer rises to God on the smoke of the incense burning in the censer. I imagine this track being some kind of antidote to 'Instrument of Evil'. They are all excellent tracks. I imagine film companies will be queuing up to use many of them.
AERIAL SUPER HIGHWAY, the third project released on Futurepast by Kato De Vidts builds on the emotional depth of her previous release, Human Becomings, De Vidts in collaboration with J. Noon crafted together on this one an immersive soundscape that beckons the audience to ascend into a celestial, hypnotic state.
From the tranquil whispers of the first track Aerial Super Highway, enveloping you in gentle melodic layers, to the driving energy of the closing Dragon Dance, where pulsating beats echo the rhythm of fire, this EP showcases De Vidts & J. Noon ability to weave intricate sound narratives. Her evocative sound design guides listeners through emotional landscapes rich with vulnerability and resilience.
As you navigate this sonic highway, expect moments of introspection and exhilaration within a beautifully chaotic interplay of hope and uncertainty. AERIAL SUPER HIGHWAY transcends the typical EP experience, inviting you to rise above the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary and uncanny aspects of existence. Join Kato De Vidts & J. Noon on this entrancing journey, where each note invites you to take off and plunge into the depths of your own consciousness. Prepare to be transported to a realm where the air hums with the magic of sound, enchanting all your perceptions.
In the age of streaming platforms and social media, stimulation is easy to come by. Real pleasure, however_the kind that feeds our soul rather than draining it_is in shockingly short supply. The second LP by THUS LOVE is full of that kind of nourishing euphoria. It swoons, shakes, and swaggers with a combination of grit and sensuality that's been hard to locate in music lately. It's called, fittingly, All Pleasure. The album came out of a period of dizzying growth and transformation for the group. When they began work on it, vocalist/guitarist Echo Mars and drummer Lu Racine were still reeling from the runaway success of their 2022 debut Memorial_a set of lush, elegant post-punk that brought praise from The FADER, the NME, and the Guardian_along with processing the departure of the founding bassist. With All Pleasure, the band re-formed with new bassist Ally Juleen and guitarist/keyboardist Shane Blank. The group convened in a barn in the woods that Mars had transformed into a recording studio, and kept one rule at the forefront: "If it's not joyful, don't do it." What emerged from that mission is a stunningly gorgeous album, full of big, arcing melodies and a range of kinky stylistic twists that will surprise listeners who know the group just for Memorial's chorus-drenched 80s-style psychedelia. "Birthday Song" gives grungy glam rock with a transcendent hook that underlines Echo's lyrical tribute to communal joy. "Get Stable" transmutes existential panic into sharp-angled punk pop. The anthemic title track is something like the album's mission statement, paying tribute to the power of joyful creation. Mixed by Matthew Hall and Rich Costey and mastered by Bob Weston, All Pleasure was recorded as live as possible, capturing the sheer infectious ecstasy that comes from sharing space together and making a divine racket. Put on All Pleasure, tap into the energy that THUS LOVE is putting out, and you just might find an escape.
Adam F drew inspiration from legendary artists like Lalo Shiffrin, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones, as well as the vibrant Funk era for his monumental track.
“With these influences I set out to create something truly unique.” Looking back on the now towering legacy of the track Adam states: “It's incredibly humbling to think that my work on Brand New Funk sparked a fusion movement within the jungle/drum and bass scene.
Over the years numerous bootlegs of my tracks emerged, showcasing the impact it’s had. However, I'm thrilled to announce that the two new releases we're unveiling are official collaborations - a joint effort between myself and Bladerunner, accompanied by the exceptional skills of another talented mixer who prefers to remain anonymous.
For these tracks, I had the pleasure of incorporating live funk bass and horns, which further elevated the energy and groove. It has been an incredible path with many a twist and turn, with club performances that have captivated audiences for over a year now. I am truly grateful for the support and the opportunity to share my passion with all of you."
Adam F drew inspiration from legendary artists like Lalo Shiffrin, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones, as well as the vibrant Funk era for his monumental track.
“With these influences I set out to create something truly unique.” Looking back on the now towering legacy of the track Adam states: “It's incredibly humbling to think that my work on Brand New Funk sparked a fusion movement within the jungle/drum and bass scene.
Over the years numerous bootlegs of my tracks emerged, showcasing the impact it’s had. However, I'm thrilled to announce that the two new releases we're unveiling are official collaborations - a joint effort between myself and Bladerunner, accompanied by the exceptional skills of another talented mixer who prefers to remain anonymous.
For these tracks, I had the pleasure of incorporating live funk bass and horns, which further elevated the energy and groove. It has been an incredible path with many a twist and turn, with club performances that have captivated audiences for over a year now. I am truly grateful for the support and the opportunity to share my passion with all of you."
Following his highly acclaimed 2021 album "Atotal" (Aesthetical) and 2022 "Magnetoscope" (Raster), Vigroux returns with eight heavyweight tracks composed in 2023 and 2024. Vigroux states about his current work: "I am not very talkative about my music unless I am specifically questioned, the immaterial dimension of music partly spares us from the major questions which are the prerogative of theatrical forms for which I am also very active, in this sense for me music is a real outlet where things are done intuitively, for pleasure". Always pushing forth and expanding his now classic rigidly cold analog sounds and rhythmic structures entwined with lush atmospheric synth compositions, "Grand Bal is another milestone in his ever growing discography.
- There Were Rebels
- Front-Load The Fun
- Yeah You, Person
- Don't Design Yourself This Way
- Furrowed Sugarloaf
- Rip The Atmosphere From The Wind
- Grow Like A Plant
- No One Displayed The Vigor Necessary To Avert Disaster's Approach
- Blame Yourself
- Instead Of Queen
- Not For Mating, Not For Pleasure, Not For Territory
- Playing Tunes Of Victory On The Instruments Of Our Defeat
It's already hard to describe what Deerhoof sounds like. So we'll skip that part and say this sounds a lot like Deerhoof with a different singer. And in keeping with 30-year Hoofian tradition, melodies soar, big hit earwigs abound, harmonies are complex, and keys change frequently and unexpectedly. Arrangements are in a constant state of impatient agitation. Emotions run high but delivery is usually a falsetto deadpan. We Sang, Therefore We Were is grief delivered in code. Greg plays everything save for a few birds who join in singing now and again. He keeps the instrumentarium severely limited, the sound shambling and anti-slick. It turns out Greg is a really good bass player and guitar player, if a bit more rudimentary and slicing compared to his Deerhoof bandmates. He does play more angry guitar solos. But don't expect another Chippendale/Saunier speed-drum freakout; the songwriting is gorgeous and sophisticated, and drums are almost an afterthought. Here, song is Queen. The singing is high and whispery, tending towards the three-part harmony. What we're saying is: We Sang, Therefore We Were sounds a bit like Deerhoof fronted by The Andrews Sisters. This is a peek inside the mind of one of indie rock's most celebrated drummers, many of whose fans may not even realize the relentlessness of his musicianship and compositional prolificacy. Mozartian chords and sounds insinuate themselves here and there on this record, finally taking over in a big climax at the end, when the drums break off unexpectedly into a laugh-or-cry orchestral outpouring that ironically may be the rawest part of a very raw album. "Satomi, Ed, John and I were chatting between shows in Austin in early December. They encouraged me to make a record on my own. With no one to please but myself, it came together way faster than usual. It was basically done by the holidays. I had been excited by the announcement that the new Rolling Stones record was going to sound 'angry.' I thought, 'Yes, I'm angry too.' But Hackney Diamonds turned out more like cotton candy than punk rock. So I went back to Nirvana. I always loved the catchy melody over massive distortion, the way their songs refused to conform to simple major or minor scales, the dark sarcasm which still resonates in this age of phony blue-check-washing of fascism." The album cover is all text, penned by Greg on the familiar topic of interspecies absurdist operatic anti-Cartesian revolution. The songs' lyrics are all drawn from this epic poem. White House spokespersons are recast as The Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute, The Queen of the Night is recast as a mockingbird singing all night in a battle for survival, and ultimately the mockingbird is recast as a campy drag artist taking pleasure in her own aggressive, tireless music-making.
Rockpile was a short-lived yet highly influential quartet, composed of Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams. Though Rockpile played together throughout the 1970s, the original 1980 release of Seconds of Pleasure was the only time the band was able to capture their magic on tape. Meshing the sounds of pub rock, power pop and rockabilly all through a blossoming new wave lens, Rockpile were renowned for their blistering live performances, which were brought to national attention on tours supporting Blondie, Bad Company, Van Morrison and Elvis Costello. Seconds of Pleasure has stood the test of time and cemented Rockpile as a one-album-wonder, but what a wonder it is! Featuring classics like Lowe’s pop-perfect “When I Write the Book” and “Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)” and Rockpile’s sole Billboard hit “Teacher Teacher,” Seconds of Pleasure remains a classic that should be found on the turntable of every music collector. Yep Roc is proud to announce a long overdue vinyl reissue of Seconds of Pleasure, pressed on yellow color vinyl and limited to 1,000 copies worldwide. The reissue was pressed at the state-of-the-art facilities of Citizen Vinyl in Asheville, North Carolina and the lacquer was cut by renowned mastering engineer Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. Over four decades later, Seconds of Pleasure has brought years of enjoyment and now has never sounded better!
The drone-pop consternations of Ekin Fil emerge through vaporous tone and forlorn, distant song, as if plucked from a dream. These exist on their own accord, moving with their own internal logic of an emotion heaviness that belies any the passing observation of this as mere shoegazing ambience. Her songs, her compositions find themselves adjacent the fragmented etherealization of Elisabeth Fraser's voice from a forgotten scene of a particular David Lynch film, as a ASMR trigger for Proustian recollection. Something profound. Something hidden. Something desolately sad.
The Helen Scarsdale Agency has had the pleasure of witnessing Ekin's continued development, maturation, and growth as a composer, having released now seven of her magnificent, under-the-radar gems. Her slow burning, dejected ballads continue to draw from the deep well of sorrow, with varying frequencies and intensities of bitter light poking through. Loves lost. A world broken. All is not hopeless, but there is a considerable amount of shit to wade through.
Sleepwalkers embraces a familiar set of metaphors in her work, that of narcolepsy and the unsettled state of existence between sleep and being awake. But she stretches herself with a set of compositions that run parallel to the work of Tim Hecker as in the gravitation soft-noise of "Stone Cold" or to a slow motion serialism that punctuates the ambient crawl of her ambitious "Gone Gone." Recommended for fans of Grouper, Rafael Anton Irisarri, A.C. Marias, and Carla dal Forno.




















